Trustees close out 2014-15

The Erskine College & Theological Seminary Board of Trustees held its final meetings for the 2014-15 fiscal year on Thursday and Friday, May 28-29. The trustees took up the following business items:

A report from President Kooistra indicated that Erskine would meet or exceed all targets included in the first year of the two-year financial stability plan, with the exception of the return on investments in the institution’s endowment. However, he said, the overall budget was on track for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, which ends in June.

The Erskine Annual Fund was a bright spot this year, with giving anticipated to exceed the $1.6 million mark by June 30. Kooistra reported significant increases in direct giving from individual ARP congregations and presbyteries as well as in increase in the number of alumni donors.

Undergraduate enrollment for 2015-16 is on track for a third consecutive year of more than 220 incoming students. Total undergraduate enrollment is expected to be near 610 in fall 2015.

The board approved the preliminary operating budget for 2015-16, the second year of the two-year financial stability plan.

The seminary committee proposed and the board adopted revisions to the seminary mission statement. The statement now reads:Erskine Theological Seminary supports the Mission of God in the world by educating, from a Biblically Reformed perspective, persons for service in the Christian Church.

The seminary committee also reported the reallocation of funds from underfunded, unoccupied, endowed chairs to support part-time or adjunct appointments, which will allow the seminary to attract more students from various constituencies:

Michael Milton, former president and chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, will take up his half-time duties in October as Director of Strategic Leader Development with part-time faculty duties as the James H. Ragsdale Professor of Missions and Evangelism.

Leslie Holmes, who has served as an adjunct professor for several years, will take on half-time duties as the John Leith Professor of Theology.

Dariusz Brycko, an ARP missionary with World Witness, will serve as R.W. Carson Professor for Christian Mission. In addition to his teaching classes, this joint arrangement will assist Dr. Brychko in planting a Presbyterian Church and developing a Reformation Study Center in Warsaw, Poland.

The trustees recognized and thanked outgoing members Max Bolin, Bill Cain, Fred Carr, Mark McDowell and Lisa Senn for their service to the board. They also recognized Larry Littlejohn, who served one year as Moderator of the ARP Synod, and Steve Southwell, who completed his term as president of the Erskine Alumni Association.